russia develops new AESA radar for PAKFA and MIG-35
The Russian corporation Fazotron-NIIR has concluded development of the newest "Zhuk-AEh" active phased array aircraft radar for MiG-35 fighters. According to the firm's general director, Vyacheslav Tishchenko, it is the first active phased array antenna assembled in Russia. Its appearance brings out fighter closer to the main competitor, the American F-35 fifth generation fighter. Now our MiG is able to compete with the F-35 not only in combat but also in the worldwide arms marketplace.
It is thought that Russia was lagging behind the United States in the area of the development of future new, fifth generation aviation complexes. The Americans already have the F-22 Raptor ((in English)) heavy fighter which has gone into series production. The F-35 is still at the testing stage. But it already is clear that it will be one of the most prospective combat aircraft of the world. The United States and its allies already have ordered more than 3,000 such fighters. We still have more to think about than to respond to the Americans. As the say at the Sukhoy design bureau, at the firm that won the state tender for the development of the future fighter, "everything is going according to plan." The already are assembling the first examples of the new aircraft at Komsomol'sk-on-Amur, and the future S-117 engine for it is being broken in on the newest Su-35.
The appearance of the regenerated MiG is an event of the very same magnitude. The renovated electronic "stuffing" distinguishes it from the usual MiG-29. All airplane systems are controlled by on-board computers. Instead of analogue needled instruments there are liquid crystal panels. The newest Peterburg Klimov Design Bureau RD-33MK engines with fully rotating nozzles. In which connection, not only in "normal" flight regime, but also in afterburner. These properties radically distinguish the MiG-35 from the Su-30MKI itself or the American F-22 and F-35.
However, in modern combat all this is not enough if the aircraft and the pilots are "blind." The "Zhuk-AEh" solves this very problem. Such radars were installed only on the most modern American fighters until its appearance, and Western Europe still is unable to create them. The installation of the complex will bring our MiG-35 fully up to the Western competitors, and at the same time will increase the chances for victory in the tender offered by India for the MMRCA program for the delivery to Delhi of 126 fighters. Let's try to analyze the details.
Parabolic or slot antennas were installed on our previous airplanes. They had one signal transmitter and receiver each. An active phased antenna array is built on the principle of a comb, which consists of 680 miniature receiving and transmitting systems. Such an antenna (again in contrast to the "predecessors") is monolithic, that is it does not turn from side to side in the search for targets. This economizes not only the systems' weight (it no longer needs electric motors), but also decreases the time for detection by the radar of targets by an order of magnitude, the scanning beam shifts from one antenna point to another in split seconds.
The new "Zhuk" has an angle of view of plus - minus 60 degrees. Viewing range is 140 kilometers. It can simultaneously track 30 and fire at 6 targets. Both in the air and on the ground. At the same time, the new antenna allows resolving a number of tasks. To transmit data about the tactical situation to other airplanes, perform electronic warfare and terrain mapping. Exactly the same as it is done on the American F-35.
According to the head of the Unified Aircraft Building Corporation, Aleksey Fedorov, all this allows talking about the MiG-35 as one of the most prospective Russian fighters which brings it close to the new generation of combat airplanes in its capabilities. In case of winning the tender, as Russian experts note, India will receive not only the fighter itself, but also the technology for producing the new radars with the active phased antenna array.
Source: 15.12.08, Finansovye Izvestiya, Correspondent: Dmitriy Litovkin
